Drink of the Week: Caskai Sparkling Cascara Infusion

The use of cascara—the dried husk of coffee cherries that gets removed from the beans as they’re processed—has been popping up everywhere from Slingshot to Starbucks, popular for its mild caffeine kick and bright, tart flavor. Austrian company Caskai uses the cascara from arabica beans in Panama and Nicaragua sourced by its sister company Panama Varietals. The coffee cherries are steeped in water to create a tea-like infusion, which is then sweetened with cane sugar and carbonated. The result is a lightly sweet soda with fruity, floral flavors. Caskai rolled out to U.S. markets this fall, with company outposts in Seattle and Davidson, North Carolina. Currently available for order on Amazon, the company is looking to begin distribution in coffee shops soon. $16/6-pack, amazon.com.